A long wait for MRI and CT scans in JDWNRH

Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) has only one Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine and one Computed Tomography (CT) scan machine. And both the machines are old and do not function well with occasional breakdowns. Therefore, the patients have to wait for a longer time then what their doctors would ideally want. Such delays are causing worries for the patients and their family members alike.

According to the Medical Superintendent, JDWNRH, Dr Gosar Pema, at the momentthe MRI machine at JDWNRH fails to function properly since the machine has been used for more than 10 years, surpassing the 10-year mark of function limit issued by the manufacturer.

“On the other hand, if proper care is being taken, it can last for more than 15 years, but the expenditure on repair and maintenance becomes more expensive as it gets older,” Dr Gosar Pema said, adding, “It is not necessary that you need to have MRI machine for diagnosis unless the case is extreme. There are other machines, like CT scan, ultrasound and X-ray which can be used as alternative method of diagnosis and investigation of diseases.”

The advantage of MRI scan is that it is can make a precise detection of soft tissues, spinal cord injuries and brain tumors. However, doctors advise that patients undergo a CT scan instead of MRI in many medical emergency cases, such as bone fracture, cancer detection and chest imaging, as a CT scan can usually be completed within 5 minutes.

However, in the past even CT scan machine has had long breakdowns leading to a swelling list of patients who cannot do important and at times urgent scans.

The Medical Superintendent pointed out that just because the MRI machine is not working, it does not mean that the people are not being diagnosed. He said, “People are being diagnosed using alternative investigations.”

Steps are already being taken for the repair and maintenance of the MRI machine. The Director General of Medical Services, Dr Ugyen Dophu, said, “The problem is solvable. The helium gas, which needs to be filled in the machine, has arrived till Phuentsholing, and it is expected that it will arrive in Thimphu very soon. And it will be okay.”

He also said, “We are planning to bring MRI machine, but first we are planning to bring CT scan machine since it’s also giving the same kind of problems. So it will take time for MRI machine to reach, at least for two years or more because verification needs to be done after the proposal.”

As there is not a single maintenance expert to fix the problem in the country, therefore, JDWNRH has to rely on expertise to be called from the manufacturing company or dealers from places, like India, United Kingdom or United States of America.

Talking to a patient who had registered for the MRI scan, Ema Maya said, “I am a diabetes and heart patient. I have registered before two weeks for MRI checkup and it was supposed to be done day before yesterday.” She is anxious and cannot wait for the machine to be fixed. She also said that she feels giddiness which has her worried.

Another patient, Namgay Wangmo, said, “I have registered for the MRI recently and I was told that they will call me as soon as the machine starts functioning.” A family member of a patient said his mother-in-law has been waiting for more than a month for the CT scan. Some cancer patients are also eagerly waiting for the machine to be fixed.

The government has plans to purchase a MRI machine that does not require helium fillings due to its unavailability. The CT scan machine will also be replaced with a higher version (64 slices) in Thimphu. The CT scan machines in Mongar and Gelephu hospitals will also be upgraded to 16 slices version that is currently being used in JDWNRH.

Meanwhile, JDWNRH has assured the patients that the MRI machine will function again by end of the week.

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